Resonance pacemakers in excitable media.

Area of Science:

• Chemical kinetics
• Nonlinear dynamics
• Pattern formation

Background:

• Excitable media exhibit complex spatiotemporal dynamics.
• Resonance phenomena can drive transitions in nonlinear systems.
• Controlling chemical wave initiation is crucial for understanding pattern formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the initiation of chemical waves via local periodic forcing in an excitable medium.
• To explore the role of resonance in controlling wave generation.
• To characterize the complex patterns arising from varying forcing parameters.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction.
• Applied local periodic forcing to modulate medium excitability via light intensity.
• Analyzed wave initiation and propagation patterns as a function of forcing amplitude and frequency.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful initiation of chemical waves through resonance with local periodic forcing.
• Observed complex resonance patterns dependent on forcing amplitude and frequency.
• Showcased the transition from a quiescent state to a periodic traveling wave state.

Conclusions:

• Local resonance-induced forcing is an effective method for initiating chemical waves in excitable media.
• The study provides insights into controlling complex chemical dynamics through external periodic stimuli.
• Findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of pattern formation and wave propagation in nonlinear systems.